Author | Lightnews

Part-Time Genius

@parttimegenius.bsky.social

46 followers 94 following 49 posts

Fascinating facts, delightful rabbit holes, and curious corners of the world. New episodes weekly, in all the podcast places. Account run by Mango, Gabe, and Mary (Will's busy organizing his candy cabinet, Dylan's in the booth).

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 12h

It's the end of our week-long series about curiosity!

Will and Mango sit down with two of the most curious people we know: Josh & Chuck from Stuff You Should Know (plus super producer Jeri) to talk childhood obsessions, behind-the-scenes stories, and Muppet personalities.

omny.fm/shows/part-t...

Being Curious for a Living with Josh & Chuck from Stuff You Should Know - Part-Time Genius

We’re closing out this week of curiosity with our good pals Josh and Chuck (and super producer Jeri!) from Stuff You Should Know. It’s a wide-ranging, brain-tickling conversation that touches on every...

omny.fm

1 1

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 12h

Our final listener activity is simple: reply here or on Instagram letting us know your favorite fact from this week and you'll be entered to win a PTG prize pack.

Plus, you still have time to do previous activities for more entries! Deadline is 11:59pm ET, Sun Oct. 26.

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 12h

Being Curious for a Living with Josh & Chuck from Stuff You Should Know - Part-Time Genius

omny.fm

1 1

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 1d

And here's today's listener activity. Think of something you're curious about, then DO NOT GOOGLE IT. Go for a walk or sit someplace quiet. Jot down any ideas or hypotheses you think of. Then come back here and tell us how it went—you'll be entered to win a PTG prize pack!

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 1d

It's Day 4 of our week-long series about curiosity!

Today: Are Will and Mango doomed to spend their retirement watching Scrubs reruns? And what is all that screen time really doing to your kid's ability to be curious?

omny.fm/shows/part-t...

Are We Doomed to Lose Curiosity As We Age? - Part-Time Genius

Today Will and Mango explore the science of curiosity at different ages: how school can help (or hurt) kids’ curiosity, why middle age may make you less curious, and what we know about babies’ curiosi...

omny.fm

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 2d

A must-read piece.

And for the record, Team PTG is deeply divided: Will and Mango are anti-pumpkin spice. Gabe and Mary, on the other hand, are smart and enjoy delicious things.

Doug Mack @douglasmack.bsky.social · 3d

I am here to reveal the truth about pumpkin spice lattes, by way of *deep* archival research (and 3,600 words)

snackstack.net/2025/10/21/t...

The curious, contentious history of pumpkin spice lattes

Starbucks didn’t invent them. But it’s possible that Tori Amos or a Midwest grandma did.

snackstack.net

2 3

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 2d

And here's today's listener activity: show your pet some unusual (to them) objects. How do they react? Reply here with the experiment results and you'll be entered to win a Part-Time Genius prize pack!

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 2d

It's Day 3 of our week-long series about curiosity!

Today we're exploring curiosity in non-human animals, from pet cats to wild chimpanzees to the tiny cleaner wrasse fish.

omny.fm/shows/part-t...

Can Pets Be Curious? How About Wild Chimps? - Part-Time Genius

Today we’re taking a break from human curiosity and turning our attention to other animals. What makes hummingbirds explore different flowers? Are we to blame for rats’ curiosity? Are animals in the w...

omny.fm

1 1

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 3d

And after you listen, reply to this post with three things you'd put in your own cabinet of curiosities. Everyone who participates will be entered to win a Part-Time Genius prize pack!

For a bonus entry, post a photo or video of your items and be sure to tag us!

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 3d

It's Day 2 of our week-long series about curiosity!

Today: The long history of powerful people trying to suppress everyone else's curiosity, and what that has to do with killing cats (metaphorically).

omny.fm/shows/part-t...

Is Curiosity Dangerous? - Part-Time Genius

Where did the saying “curiosity killed the cat” come from, and is it just a way for the rich and powerful to oppress everyone else? (Hint: yes.) Today on the show, Will and Mango take a look at curios...

omny.fm

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 4d

I could watch this thing do its thing all day

youtu.be/l1BNFmgaCco?...

How to make Homemade Cavatelli with the Demetra Cavatelli Pasta Maker

YouTube video by Consiglioskitchenware.com

youtu.be

1 1

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 4d

And after you listen to today's episode, take our Which PTG Co-Host Are You quiz, reply here with your result, and you'll be entered in the drawing to win a Part-Time Genius prize pack!

uquiz.com/quiz/ZS8I8A/...

Which Part-Time Genius Co-Host Are You?

Hey there podcast listeners, it's time to find out once and for all: Are you a Will or a Mango?

uquiz.com

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 4d

If you've ever wondered why you wonder so much, wonder no more! Every day this week we're dropping a new episode about curiosity—why we have it, why powerful people have tried to suppress it, how it changes as we age, and more.

Day 1: Curiosity and braaaaaiiiins.

omny.fm/shows/part-t...

What Does Curiosity Really Do To Our Brains? - Part-Time Genius

Every day this week, we’re exploring a different aspect of curiosity—you know, the thing that makes you listen to this show. We’re starting off by discovering what happens in our brains when we experi...

omny.fm

1 1

Reposted by Part-Time Genius

Ingrid Burrington @lifewinning.com · 5d

the Muppets have been real quiet since the Louvre heist

210 4K 18K

Reposted by Part-Time Genius

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 7d

Pandas, snow leopards...and bacteria. A newly formed team of scientists is setting out to conserve the world's diversity of microbes. Here's my story: nyti.ms/47vEfRC

Photo of Grand Prismatic Springs, Yellowstone (home of thermophilic bacteria) Photo by Mike Goad https://flic.kr/p/Gm8fZc

1 30 130

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 8d

Thank you for bringing this... thing... to our attention. We do have some tennis enthusiasts on our team, but the fact is, there are some places where rackets don't belong.

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 9d

A bold take, I respect it

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 9d

I thought for sure this would mean "wrecked house" in Italian, but no, it's "homemade"

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 9d

All hail @sporkful.bsky.social

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 9d

Lots of people like the little ears!

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 9d

If your pasta has a hard core you need to cook it a minute longer. But yes, gemelli is fantastic

1 1

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 9d

Another one I had to google! Very elegant

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 9d

I am not going to argue with her

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 9d

You have excellent taste in pasta!

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 9d

Okay this is amazing. There's a pasta for everything!

Part-Time Genius @parttimegenius.bsky.social · 9d

You can do anything with it! (I eat it, mostly)